Self-closing tangling jet apparatus



Jan. 16, 1968 H, JEUR|5SEN ET AL 3,363,294

SELF-CLOSING TANGLING JET APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. l5, 1965YNVENTORS HENDRIKUS GERARDUS JEURISSEN GERARDUS WILHELMUS BLES BY Jan.16, 1968 Filed Dec. 15. 1sa5 H. G. JEURISSEN ET AL 3,353,294

SELF-CLOSING TANGLING JET APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HENDRIKUSGERARDUS JEURISSEN GERARDUS WILHELMUS BLES Jan. 16, 1968 H. G.JEURlssr-:N ET AL 3,363,294

SELF-CLOSING TANGLING JET APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5N m OGL was N m@ @my QN, my @w E fsm j/ wH M RL A r AW G .I Dn ES /C lGu m lm Sm T mm m L lult \.V.v m mm N 7///// J7 /7// w om f@ 6m wml @oaEl v iq @B :i111 NJ 87mm mm m n lml 1 J /mw mm\ A. wm I ,.i||. l n(|\\.lfli om g3@ f N Si @iwi n .mi Qi Jan. 16, 1968 H. G. .JEURISSEN ETAL 3,363,294

SELF-CLOSING TANGLING JET APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, y1965 4 Sheets-Sheet4 74 2 i 46 TX INVENTORS HENDRIKUS RARDUS JEURISSEN GERARD WILHELMUSBLES United States Patent O 3,363,294 SELF-CLSING TANGLING JET APPARATUSHendrikus G. 3eurissen, Velp, Gelderland, and Gerardus W. Bies, Arnhem,Netherlands, assignors to American Enka Corporation, Euka, N.C., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 513,973 Claimspriority, application Netherlands, Dec. 18, 1964, 64-14,783 13 Claims.(CI. 28--1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for intertwining,interlacing, knotting, convoluting or otherwise agitating artificialfilaments, yarns or threads by a pressurized iiuid ow when utilizing ajet assembly comprising a housing, closure means slidably positionedwithin the housing and adapted for reciprocating movement when subjectedto the action of a pressurized fluid, said closure means furtherdefining an open and closed yarn insertion and yarn treating positionfor the apparatus wherein the insertion position 1s defined by anabsence of a pressurized fluid passing through the jet assembly and atreating position is defined when the closure means is Vsubjected tofluid under pressure and where said fluid passes through the jetassembly.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of yarn,and more particularly to an apparatus for subjecting substantiallyuntwisted artificial or man made multifilament yarn such as rayon and/orthermoplastic synthetic high polymer yarn to the action of a fluidpassing through the yarn in the form of a jet stream.

It is known that multitilament artificial yarns having little orsubstantially no twist are difficult to handle in textile operations.When filaments of the yarn are parallel, they lack cohesion because oftheir loose association with each other and therefore create problems inweaving and knitting operations. In order to overcome these problems,various methods and apparatuses have been developed for modifyingrnultifilament yarn to improve bundle cohesion. One recent developmentconsists of passing yarn to an apparatus having a turbulent zone towhich'a fluid, such as air, is introduced through a jet assembly underpressure. Individual filaments of the yarn in the zone are disorientedand by controlling yarn speed and pressure of the fluid in the zone, theyarn can be bulked or compacted and the filaments thereof thus becomerandomly tangled and interlaced.

Such apparatus and methods are also used for joining the ends offilament bundles. This is carried out by arranging two en ds parallel toeach other in an overlapping manner by either holding or clamping theoverlapped portion within the apparatus. A jet of gas such as air isthen directed across the overlapped portion, between the clamped points,while the yarn is maintained under slight tension. The jet or blast ofgas through the bundle results in tangling, the filaments therebycausing the thread ends to be, in effect, gas spliced. This serves toretain the ends in permanent engagement. The friction between theengaged filaments results in a joint having substantially the tensilestrength of unbroken yarn or filaments per se. This type of anengagement results in a product which will not adversely affect thecontinuity of'subsequent processes such as dyeing, weaving, knitting,etc.

Although these procedures and apparatuses used for bulking, tangling orentwining of yarns rwhich are composed of artificial filaments havedefinite advantages over other methods such as twisting and knotting,special procedures must be used for lowering, venting, extremely highnoise levels. Fluid used in these operations issues from a jet orificeat relatively high speeds and pressures and causes an extremely highlevel of noise. This noise is an cxtreme nuisance and, in some cases, isharmful to people working around or operating the device, particularlyif a number of devices are operating at one time and in the samelocation. To lower such high accompanying noise, it has been proposed toenclose at least part of the apparatus in a hinged cover or housing. Thehousing is lined with a sound absorbing material and is provided withopenings to allow passage of the yarn to and from the jet assembly. Sucha proposal, however, has the disadvantage that when threading the deYvice, two separate operations are required. The gas supply must bestopped and the cover of the housing must be opened. This is a very timeconsuming and cumbersome operation, particularly when the apparatus isused for splicing yarn ends. In this type operation, the operator mustuse both hands to hold the yarn ends and must somehow manage to closethe cover of the housing before starting the air supply to the nozzle.As a result, many operators merely leave the cover open, furthercompounding noise of normal operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anartificial yarn fiuid jet tangling assembly having a minimum ofattendant noise.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple yarntangling assembly having a turbulent treating zone which isautomatically closed when the fluid stream is blown through thefilaments to be treated.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a mufiiingchamber completely housed within a duid jet tangling assembly forabsorbing sound, thus avoiding the necessity of having a chamber whichmust be opened when rethreading or operating the apparatus.

These objects may be accomplished in accordance with this invention byproviding means within a cylinder-like housing and operated by fluidunder pressure to automatically close the cylinder during a yarnentwining operation. The means, inter alia, comprises a movable plungerhoused in the cylinder and activated by gas under pressure. The plungercarries a yarn receiving and positioning slot which, in turn, cooperateswith a yarn receiving slot cut in or on the cylinder. The plunger, whenunder the inuence of gas under pressure, moves with respect to thecylinder to define an enclosed zone `where the yarn entwinning takesplace. The plunger also carries an internal mufiiing space having ventscommunicating directly with the thus confined zone to effectively subdueattendant noise during a tangling operation.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent to those skilled in this art uponstudy of the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE l represents the apparatusaccording to this invention in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II in FIGURE l;

FIGURES 3 and 4 represent a different embodiment of the apparatus inlongitudinal cutaway sections;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are detailed views of an additional embodiment;

FIGURES 7-10 are additional views of the apparatus as shown in FIGURES 5and 6; and

FIGURE ll schematically shows the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In FiGURE l, numeral 1 refers to the housing cylinder within whichreciprocating plunger 2 is slidably supported. Plunger 2 is preventedfrom rotating by a pin 37 or if possible prewhich fits in a guide slot38. The internal surface of the plunger slides along the outer surfaceof fixed tubular bushing 3. Bushing 3 is attached to cylinder 1 by meansof screws 5 and 6 at collarV 4. Both ends of bushing 3 are internallythreaded to receive Vsupport rings 7 and 8. Ring 7 is internallythreaded to receive externally threaded stud bolt 9. Stud 9 carries agas reversing member, which may consist of a flat circular disc or wall,and which preferably carries head 10, with a resonance chamber 14defined by a small cylinder 11 having an entry port 12. Slot 13 isprovided in the stud bolt 9 for axially adjusting head 10. Nut 15 servesto lock stud bolt 9 in position.

Bushing 3 is provided with a channeled partition 16 which, together withcircular partition 8, supports jet assembly 17. Jet assembly 17 isprovided with a uid flow channel 18, ending as diverging gas exitorifice 19. Partition 16 is provided with iiuid exit ports 21 and 22which communicate with Vthe muiiler area 80. When the plunger 2 is inthe FIGURE 1 position, ports 23 cornmunicate with recess 24. The recessis externally vented through openings 26 by way of channels 25 inplunger 2, although for the sake of clarity, only one of each is shown.

Stationary bushing 3, with the partition 16, ring 7, and plunger 2 (whenin an operating or yarn treating position) defines the yarn tangling andblowing zone at chamber 27 and includes jet orifice 19 and resonancechamber 14. The cylinder wall, at the chamber wall, and bushing 3 areprovided with yarn receiving and aligning slots 28, 29, and 30.

Ring-shaped stop face 31 of cylinder 1 arrests plunger movement when airpressure is released and when under the influence of spring 32.. Spring32 is secured in recess 33. The expansion chamber or area of movement ofthe plunger is shown at 34. Fluid is supplied from a source (not shown)through feed tube 36 to conduit'35. The fiuid used can be any gaseoussubstances, such as saturated and unsaturated steam or relatively cheapcompressed air. The gas introduced operates the plunger and passesthrough the opened end jet assembly to tangle the yarn.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 yfacing the jetorifice 19; and also shows the gas escape vents V21 and 22 leading intothe muflling chamber. Eyelets 28 serve to pass the yarn to and positionsame in a treating relationship with the orifice.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show a somewhat diiferent embodiment of the invention,particularly in the mounting of the jet assembly, design of the plungerelement with its associated recoil mechanism, and in the plungerhousing. Yarn treating chamber 27 and orifice 19, along with resonancechamber 14, are in actuality considered part of andare maintained byplunger 2. Reference numeral 39 refers to an enlarged portion of theplunger provided with thread-receiving slot 29, which cooperates with asecond thread-receiving slot 30 in cylinder 1.

, Circular Vpartition 46 partially supports jet assembly 17, -and isscrewed into the plunger at head 41. This arrangement provides not onlyan assembly feature, but an adjustable feature as well and, whenassembled and properly positioned, it may be locked by means of nut 42.Partition 40 is similar to an embodiment shown in FIGURE l and isprovided with channels 21, 22 connecting theyarn treating or blowingchamber with muler space 80. Muifler space 80 is essentially enclosed bythe inner sidewalls of plunger 2. Gas passing to and contained in muiier80 is eventually vented to the atmosphere through ports 26. Resonancechamber 14 is mounted for traveling with the plungerr43. Edge 45 ofcylinder end cap or closure 44 serves as a stop face for the plunger andlimits its lateral movement. Movement in the opposite direction islimited by stop rim 46 and cooperating plunger collar 47.V Recesses 43and 49 serve to house recoil spring 50. Cylinder end cap or closure 44further has a gas escape channel 51 for release Vof gases trapped infront of the piston which would act to hold back the plunger during itsforward operating stroke.

FIGURE 4 shows a longitudinal cutaway portion of the cylinder housing ofFIGURE 3. Cylinder 1 is provided with permanent magnet 52, which servesto mount the apparatus during operation. The reduced cross section 53 ofthe cylinder facilitates handling of the device.

FIGURE 5 shows an additional embodiment of apparatus according to theinvention which is particularly suitable for joining yarn ends. Cylinder1 khas a spring locking ring 62, which serves as a stop for plunger 2when in position for yarn entanglement. The plunger is subject topressure of a spring 50, which bears against plunger face 43 at one endand against closure 44 at the other end. Closure.44 is attached tocylinder 1 by means of bolt 63 and screw 65 through opening 12 by studbolt 9. The plunger reversing space is referred to by numeral 58. Travelof plunger 2 is adjusted by means of bolt 37 in guide slot 38. Conduit54 is the entry way for the pressurized gas.

FIGURE 5A shows a view of the cylinder 1 along the line Va in FIGURE 5.The figure more clearly shows gas return channel 70 with connectingchannels 35a and 35h. Pressure-equalizing channel 56 is shown along withthe cylindrical space comprising the plunger stop rim 46. Threaded bores71, 72 and 73 receive the bolts 63securing closure 44.

FIGURE 6 shows a view along the line VI-VI in FIGURE 5. Channel 35ashows a manually operated valve 55 which will Vbe more fully discussedbelow in relation to the schematic drawing in FIGURE ll. Channel 35a isconnected to a gas return channel 70. Gas return channel 70 is shown asa recess formed in the cylinder 1 partially enclosed by closure 44.Valve 55 can be operated by means of pushbuttonr66, which depresseselement 67 against spring 68. The figure also shows gas vents 26communicating to the atmosphere. Channel 56 is a pressure-equalizingchannel and has a relatively large diameter to enable it to contain ahigher gas volume compared with the gas volume contained in space 34behind plunger 2 (when in a forward position). As a result, plungerreversing space 5S (FIGURE 11) Yand the pressure-equalizing channel 56together form a relatively large dead spaceV so that, during forwardmovement, any counter-pressure tending to be exerted on the plunger (asa result of compression) will be prevented. Gas is supplied to thecylinderY through tube connection 69.

The paths through which gas passes through the cylinder are best shownin FIGURES 7-11, which show an elevaf tion and a number of sectionalviews of the cylinder.

FIGURE 7 shows a longitudinal section of the cylinder along the lineVII-VII of FIGURE 5A. The figure shows the shape of the thread-receivingslot 30, as well as air-- escape ports 26 andV vents 74 to connect thereversing space with the atmosphere when opened by the plunger duringthe back stroke. Further, the figure more clearly shows channel 35 andconduit 54, and also openings 75 and 76, which accommodate valve 67 andguide bolt 37, respectively.

FIGURE 8 shows the apparatus in cross-section along the line VIII- VIIIin FIGURE 7, and FIGURE 9 shows a cross-section along the line IX-1X.FIGURE 10 more clearly shows conduit 54, leading to plunger expansionchamber 34, and opening 77 for tube connection 69 (FIG- URE 6 only).Channel 78 of the pressure-equalizing channel /56/ also connects toexpansion chamber 34 and to opening 79 through which a conical gasadjustment pinY 59 I(not shown) is positioned. FIGURE 9 more clearlyshows gas vents 26. Y Y Y FIGURE l0 shows the cylinder incross-sectionalong the line X-X in FIGURE 7 wherein channel 35 is moreY clearly shownconnecting to plunger expansion chamber 34. Y

In the above-described drawings, valve 55 ismounted within cylinder 1although it is also possible to locate it outside the apparatus as shownin FIGURE 1l (discussed below). This could permit external manipulationby an operator, e.g., by a foot pedal. The positioning indicated inFIGURES 5-11 does have an advantage, however, in that the apparatus canmore readily be relocated.

In the schematic showing in FIGURE 11, numerals 1 and 2 again refer tothe cylinder and the plunger, respectively. Gas conduits 35 and 54connect to expansion chamber 34. Conduit 3S serves as a by-pass conduitbranching from conduit 54 and is provided with externally located valve55. Valve 55 divides conduit 35 into two parts 35a and 35b. The openingof conduit 54 into area 34 is permitted by the movement of plunger 2.The pressure-equalizing channel 56 I(discussed above) connects expansionchamber 34 to plunger reversing space 58 at point P. Channel 56 isprovided with an adjustable ilow characteristic by pin 59 having conicalend 60 cooperating with conical seat 61.

With reference first to the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1, operation ofthe apparatus is as follows:

Air may be supplied to chamber 34 of the apparatus from any suitablesource, not shown. In the absence of pressurized air, the plunger willbe under the action of spring 32 and will be pressed against stop face31 and yarn-receiving slots 28 and 30 and yarn-receiving slot 29 willthen be properly aligned in a receiving relation. The yarn to beentangled can then be inserted into blowing chamber 27. This alignmentof the yarn-receiving slots 28, 29 and 30 will hereinafter be referredto as the open position: and for the purposes of this invention theterms yarn and thread are to be used for the same material.

When compressed gas is supplied to expansion chamber 34, plunger 2 ismoved to the left until in contact with the collar 4 of the bushing 3.This position hereinafter is referred to as the operating or the forwardposition. Yam-receiving slots 28 and 29 will then overlap in a manner toform two eyelets or small openings which surround the multifilamentyarn. The openings serve as guides and deiine a path for the yarnintersecting the center line of jet orifice 19. This is perhaps bestshown in FIG- URE 2.

Compressed gas being supplied through the conduit 35 enters the blowingchamber 27 by way of the jet assembly 17. The pressure of the gas beingused is dependent on two factors: (l) the denier of the yarn beingentangled, and (2) the diameter of the jet assemblys exit orifice. Forexample, when the oriiice measures 1.2 mm., and the yarn being treatedis 100 denier, the preferred gas pressure is around 4 atmospheres(absolute). A pressure range normally preferred for the embodiments ofthe present invention range from approximately 4 to 6 atmospheres(absolute).

The gas flows past the filaments and enters resonance chamber 14 throughthe opening 12, which is in alignment with oriiice 19. As a result, thegas becomes highly turbulent, and completely interlaces or tangles thelilaments positioned in the chamber. Tension of the ilaments during thistangling process should be low enough to permit deviation of thefilaments from their feed path. Since thread-receiving slot 28 is ineffect closed during tangling, the gas can only be discharged fromblowing chamber 27 by way of channels 21 and 22 in partition 16. Thus,gas is discharged in mutller space 80. The gas leaves the muier space byway of ports 23 and is eventually vented to the atmosphere through ports26. Muler space 80 may be lined with sound-absorbing material orprovided with pipe 20, to extend the gas residence time in the muffler(indicated by the broken line in FIGURES 1 and 2). Either expedient willprovide elfective sound reducing means. The diameter of the muiingdischarge channels leading from blowing chamber 27 and from muiier space80 must be considerably larger than that of jet assembly 19 in order tokeep the speed of the gas to be discharged as low as possible.

When the gas supply to chamber 34 is cut olf, spring 32 presses plunger2 against stop face 31. Thus, threadreceiving slots 28, 29 and 30 againresume an open position relative to each other. The operating cycle isrepeated by the operator by again merely inserting the yarn to betangled and controlling the gas supply.

In operation of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5-11, the yarn ends tobe joined are inserted in the same manner as set out in relation to theoperation above when the plunger is in the position indicated by thebroken lines in FIGURE 1l. This position is permitted by a constantpressure of gas, such as air, which prevails in conduit 54 when valve 55is closed. Valve 55 is spring loaded in a closed position and whenopened, air enters chamber 34 and drives plunger 2 to an operatingposition where the same air under an increased pressure, because of thereduced diameter of the jet orifice, serves to tangle the filaments.Conduit 54 will then be completely open and, after spring valve S5 isreleased, the amount of air introduced to the chamber 34 Will beconstant. Towards the end of the forward travel of the plunger, gas exit56a of pressure-equalizing channel 56 will be opened and gas ows throughthe channel to reversing space 58. This (aided by recoil spring 32) actsto form a counterpressure against the plunger thus returning the plungerto its original yarn loading or inserting position.

The time required for the cycle varies and is dependent on the pressureof the gas introduced to the system and the width selected for thepassage between conical pin 59 and seat 61. However, when suicientpressure builds up in 58 (in excess of pressure at 34), the plunger isdriven back. During the back stroke, the plunger opens air-escape vent74 (FIGURE 7) for bleeding off any air remaining in the reversing space58. Exits 56a and 54a will again be closed and the cycle can then berepeated.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE 5 is particularly suitable for makingtangled splices in glass yarn since the duration of the tanglingtreatment can be kept within relatively narrow limits. Running lengthsof glass filaments cannot be joined by conventional knotting andheretofore the lengths have been glued together which is highlyundesirable in making textile fabrics. Glued spots scorch upon furthertreatment. With the present apparatus, however, it is possible to repairrapidly and effectively, without gluing, any yarn breakages which takeplace at any stage of operation.

The present apparatus has the additional advantage of compactconstruction, which facilitates handling and point to point movementwith ease. This is an especial advantage in splicing yarn ends. Forinstance, the device may be fastened to the body by means of a belt or,if desired, the apparatus may be mounted on a light, readilydisplaceable stand.

Since other modifications or embodiments will become apparent, it isintended that the scope of this invention be limited only to the extentset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for intertwining, interlacing or otherwise agitatingartificial lilaments by pressurized fluid How utilizing a jet assembly,the improvements comprising, in combination;

(a) a housing,

(b) closure means within said housing adapted for movement whensubjected to a pressurized fluid,

(c) said means having an open and closed position wherein the yarn isinserted and treated, respectively, and

(d) said means when in a closed position at least partially dening ayarn treatment chamber wherein the yarn is intertwined by a ow of fluidpassing through a jet orice in said chamber.

2. An apparatus for intertwining artical multilament yarn whichcomprises a housing, a plunger movably supported in said housing andadapted to be operated by a fluid under pressure, said plunger beingadapted for movement along a jet assembly between open and closedpositions When subjected to said iluid under pressure, and said jetassembly having means for channeling at least a portion of the uid underpressure to a yarn treatment chamber when in said closed position tothereby intertwine the yarn by the actionrof the iluid issuing from theassembly to the chamber.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said treatment chamber isessentially completely closed by the plunger when in a forward positionand under the influence of uid under pressure.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said treatment chambercomprises a jet Yorifice for supplying a fluid under pressure, acylindrical resonance chamber having an opening disposed opposite thejet orifice, yarn guides to position yarn between said orice and theopening in said resonance chamber, said treatment chamber being furtherprovided with uid exit vents connecting said chamber to a mulingchamber.

5. Apparatus as dened in claim 4 wherein the plunger is provided withchannels cooperating with Vents in the apparatus housing for removal ofthe operating fluid from the apparatus.

6. Apparatus as dened in claim 4 wherein said muling chamber is providedwith means to absorb sound.

7. Apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said plunger vis adapted formovement along a iixed bushing within said housing.

8. An apparatus for joining articial multiflament yarn ends whichcomprises a cylindrical housing having a movable plunger therein, saidplunger adapted to be reciprocated by a fluid under pressure between anopen and closed yarn insertion and yarn treating position, respectively,said plunger, when in a closed position, substantially enclosing a jetassembly Within a yarn treatment chamber, and said jet assembly havingmeans for channeling at least a portion of the uid under pressure to thechamber to thereby entangle said ends in said chamber.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said treating chamber has ayarn treating zone having a jet orice for supplying a uid under pressureto yarn in said zone, a cylindrical resonance chamber having an openingdisposed opposite and in alignment with said orifice, and yarn guides toposition yarn between said orifice and the opening in said resonancechamber.

10. Apparatus as dened in claim 9 wherein said treating chamber isfurther provided with fluid exit vents connecting said chamber to themung chamber within i said plunger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,149,451 9/ 1964 Benson et al.57-22 3,167,847 2/ 1965 Gonsalves 28-1 3,273,330 9/1966 Gonsalves 57--22X Y FOREIGN PATENTS 1,339,421 4/ 1963 France.

LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner.

